triangulation

Triangulation is defined as a method of surveying an area by dividing it into triangles.

An example of triangulation is determining the total area of an island by setting a fixed point in the middle of the island, dividing the island into triangles from that point, determining that one side of a triangle is 1000 feet long and that the triangle makes a 180 degree angle, and then determining the length of the other side based on this information.

triangulation

noun

Surveying, Navigation the process of determining the distance between points on the earth's surface, or the relative positions of points, by dividing up a large area into a series of connected triangles, measuring a base line between two points, and then locating a third point by computing both the size of the angles made by lines from this point to each end of the base line and the lengths of these lines

the triangles thus marked out

Origin of triangulation

Medieval Latin triangulatio

triangulation

noun

a. A surveying technique in which a region is divided into a series of triangular elements based on a line of known length so that accurate measurements of distances and directions may be made by the application of trigonometry.

b. The network of triangles so laid out.

The location of an unknown point, as in navigation, by the formation of a triangle having the unknown point and two known points as the vertices.

The establishment of a political position that differs from two existing or opposing positions, especially in being moderate.

triangulation - Computer Definition

The use of two known coordinates to determine the location of a third. Used by ship captains for centuries to navigate on the high seas, a form of triangulation known as "trilateration" is employed in GPS receivers to pinpoint their current location on earth. Trilateration is also used by cellular phone carriers to identify a caller's location for emergency 911 services.
Triangulation Vs. Trilateration
Tri-ang-ulation deals with the measurement of the angle of the triangle formed between the observer and two known locations. Tri-lat-eration deals with the distances between observer and locations and is closer to what GPS navigation systems actually do. GPS uses three and four known locations from satellites to pinpoint the person or vehicle. See GPS and E911.